Metal forming working device



y 16, 1939- c. P. CHAMBERLIN 2,158,400

'METAL Fofimue WORKING DEVICE Filed Nov. 11, '19s"! 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 E VTOR a/WZeXZZ'IZ M/ W .ay .3

y 1939- c. P. CHAMBERLIN 2,158,400

METAL FORMING WORKING DEVICE Filed NOV. 11, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR (7472 7766 amierk,

m ATTORNEIG'.

May 16, 1939. c. P. CHAMBERLIN v METAL FORMING WORKING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 11, 1937 INVENTOR TTORNEYS.

May 16, 1939.

c. P. CHAMBERLIN METAL FORMING WORKING DEVICE Filed Nov. 11,1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METAL FORMING WORKING DEVICE Clarence P. Chamberlin, Pleasant Ridge, Mich., assignor to Metal Mouldings Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application November 11, 1937, Serial No. 174,085

8 Claims. (01. 29-33) This invention relates to apparatus for form- Fig. is a fragmentary front elevational view ing and working metal articles; and particushowing. parts in cross section taken substantiallarly relates to an apparatus for forming and ly along the line 55 of Fig. 3;

working metal moldings adapted for use on auto- Fig. 6 is a broken fragmentary front elevational 5 mobiles. View with parts in cross section taken substan- 5 One of the primary objects is to provide a tially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3; newand improved arrangement of machines Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view with parts in whereby strip metal may be formed and worked elevation taken substantially along the line 1-1 in a speedy and more economical manner than of Fig. 6; is possible with prior constructions. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken substan- 10 Another object of the present invention is to tially along the line 8-8 of Fig. 6; provide a metal forming machine, through which Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6 with the parts strip metal is continuously fed, so arranged relain a different operating position; tive to a buifing or polishing machine, through Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the structure illuswhich the formed metal passes, that the formtrated in Fig. 9; l5 ing machine also serves as the driving means Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the strip stock for passing the formed metal strip through the before rolling; buffing or polishing machine. Fig. 12 is a perspective View of the finished Another object of the present invention is article;

to provide an improved manner of supporting Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a modified form 20 the formed metal strip as it is passed through the of molding; and bufling or polishing machine. Fig. 14 is an elevational view taken substan- A further object of the present invention is tially along the line I l-l4 of Fig. 3. to provide an improved apparatus for automati- In general, according to the present invencally measuring the formed strip into desired tion, asubstantially flat continuous strip of metal 2 lengths and severing the strip into those lengths. is passed through a forming or shaping machine A further object of the present invention is to in which the metal strip is shaped to the desired provide a simplified structure for removing the cross-sectional configuration. The forming masevered, finished strip from the machine. chine is of conventional construction and forms A further object of the present invention is to no part of the present invention per se and is 30 provide an improved buffing or polishing machine part of the present invention only in the comwhereby metal strips of different form may be bination illustrated and claimed. The buffing more effectively finished. or polishing machine is arranged in line with A more specific object of the present invention the forming machine so that as the strip of metal is to provide an improved manner of universally leaves the forming machine, it is passed directly adjustably mounting buffing or polishing wheels onto a support on the finishing machine which on a metal finishing machine whereby metal guides and supports the formed strip in its passtrips of various sectional shapes may be effecsage through the finishing machine. The formtively finished. ing rollers on the shaping machine are rotated Other objects of the present invention will in such a direction that the forming rollers serve 40 become apparent from the following specification, as a driving means for passing the formed strip the drawings relating thereto and from the claims along the support on the finishing machine. The hereinafter set forth. support is of a complementary sectional shape In the drawings, in which like numerals are to the shape of the formed strip so that the used to designate like parts in the several views strip is properly supported and the bufilng or 45 throughout: polishing is thereby facilitated. The buffing or Figure 1 is a perspective View of an apparatus polishing wheels are universally mounted on the embodying features of the present invention; finishing machine so that they may be suitably Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of positioned for proper engagement with the surthe discharge end of the apparatus illustrated in faces of the formed strip for properly finishing 50 Fig. 1; all surfaces thereof. After leaving the finishing Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the structure illusmachine, the strip is passed onto a measuring trated in Fig. 1; and cut-oif mechanism. The measuring mech- Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substananism measures the continuous strip into detially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; sired lengths and automatically actuates the sev- 55 ering mechanism for severing the strip into articles of desired length. Spring means engage the strip adjacent the measuring mechanism and beyond the cut-off mechanism so that after the strip is measured, the springs function to automatically discharge the severed article from the machine.

Referring to the drawings, a supporting reel I4 is provided upon which a roll of metal strip stock I6 is rotatably supported for feeding a forming or shaping machine generally indicated at IS. The shaping machine I8 is of conventional construction, and includes a base H] which supports a, plurality of gear reduction driving mechanisms 20. Each of the driving mechanisms 20 has upper and lower drive shafts extending therefrom upon which are mounted an upper forming roller 2| and a lower forming roller 22. Vertical forming rollers 23 are also provided for shaping the sides of the strip. The shaping rollers are of suitable configuration so as to give the substantially flat strip l6 thedesired shape, and are aligned so as to provide a substantially straight forming pass through which, the stripv l6 passes. The rollers 2| and 22 arerotated in such a direction that the strip I8 is pulled from the reel l4 and fed toward the discharge end of the shaping machine I8. An operating bar 24 is provided for operating the forming machine and may be suitably connected toa prime mover housed within the base l9 which is connected to the gear reduction mechanisms 28 .in a suitable way.. .i .7

After the formed or shaped strip 32 leaves the forming .machinelB, it is passed through a pair of elongated blocks 25 which are held together by. a, clamp 26. The blocks 25 have complementary grooves formed within the facing sides thereof in which the grooves have configurations of the shaped strip. The blocks serve as guides and also serve, to iron out minor wrinkles whichthe formed strip may have.

The formed strip 32. is then passed throu h a finishing machine generally indicated at 21. The machine 21 includes a base 28 which supports a longitudinally extending I-beam 29. Spaced angle irons 30 are disposed on the top surface of the beam 29 and removably mount there.- between an. elongated strip support 3|. The support 3| has a sectional shape complementary to that of the formed strip 32,, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the strip 32 is securely and properly positioned as it passes through the finishing machine. The support 3| is aligned with the path through theforming machine l8 and the forming rolls 2| and22 serve to drive or feed the formed .strip 32 along the support 3L. w

Finishing or bufiing wheels 34 of conventional, suitableconstruction are disposed above the support --3| and are spaced therealong to engage and finish the outer surface of theformed strip 32." Thewheels 34 are mounted upon drive shafts 36 (Fig. 5) for rotation therewith; and the shafts 36 are journaled within bearing supports 38. The support 38 is fixed to one end of a pivoted support 48 which is pivotally mounted by a pivot 4| to an upstanding U-sha'ped bracket member 42.

The bracket 42 is adjustably fixed to the base 28 by an adjustable nut and bolt means 44; and wedges 4B and 41 are interposed between the base 28 and the bracket 42 for tiltably and adjustably mounting the bracket 42 and the wheel 34 relative to the base and vto the work. The bracket 42 may also be rotated about the bolt 44 forrotatably adjusting the bracket 42 together with the wheel 34 relative to the support and to the work.

The supports 48 also have mounted thereon, on the side of the pivot 4| opposite to that of the wheel 34, a driving motor 48 which is suitably connected through a belt and pulley mechanism 50 to a pulley fixed to the shaft 35 for driving the wheel 34. The driving mechanism is so constructed and arranged that the wheels 34 are driven in the same direction as the direction of movement of the work strip 32 past the wheel so that the wheels 34 assist to some extent in passing the strip 32 through the finishing machine.

In order to adjustably mount the wheels 34 relative to the strip 32 in a vertical direction, the bearing support 38 is slidably mounted Within a frame member 52 which has a curved plate member- 54 fixed thereto at the bottom of the frame 52. An adjusting screw 56 is received through a threaded opening in a hand wheel 57 and is fixed to.the. bearing support 38 and received through an opening in the frame 52 so that by turning the hand wheel 51, the bearing support 38 may be slidably adjusted within the frame 52 for obtaining accurate adjustment. A spring 58 is mounted between the support 38 and the upper edge of the frame 52 in surrounding relation to the screw 55 for. .constantly urging the bearing support 38 downwardly.

For obtaining rough vertical adjustments of the wheel 34 and the shaft 38 about its pivot 4|, an upstanding rod member 68 is slidably mounted within a bracket 82 and extends upwardly through suitable openings in the base 28 and engages the under surface of the curved member 54. A cable or rope 64 is suitably connected at 66 to the lower end of the rod member 62 and extends around a pulley 67 to which the cable 641 is attached at 68. The pulley G! is securedto a shaft 10 for rotation therewith, and the shaft 10 is suitably supported on upstanding members of the base 28. The shaft l8 extends forwardly of the base, and has fixed thereto at its forward end a crank arm 12 for rotating the shaft I0, and therefore rotating the pulley 61. A ratchet wheel 14 is fixed to the shaft l0 and has associated therewith a stop pawl 16 which is fixed to the base 28 for holding the shaft 18 in its adjusted position. It is evident that by suitably turning the crank arm 12 the pulley 61 is thereby rotated, thus raising or lowering the rod member 61 which in turn raises or lowers the shaft 36 pivoting the shaft 36 about its pivot 4|. The wheel 34 may thus be adjusted vertically relative to the work support 3 I.

By the various adjustments above described which. are provided for each of the wheels 34, it is evident that the wheels 34 may be adjusted to any suitable position so that the buffing or polishing surfaces of the wheels may be positioned to engage any of the surfaces of the strip 32. 'Iheadjustments above described have particular utility when a support having a shape complementary to that of the work piece is provided in that the work piece is properly supported in all directions and the wheel may be adjusted to apply the polishing or buffing force against the strip 32 in any direction while the strip 32 will be properly supported and cannot be displaced during the finishing operation.

Dust collecting housings T8 are provided over each of the wheels 34 and have exhaust conduits 80 associated therewith so that the dust adjacent thewheels 34 may be effectively removed and discharged at a suitable remote location.

After the shaped and finished strip 32 leaves the finishing machine 21, it is passed through a pair of blocks 82 which are held together by a clamp 84 for guiding and also serving to iron out any minor wrinkles which the formed and finished strip may have, in the same manner as the blocks 25 previously described. The formed and finished strip 32 is then passed onto and through a severing mechanism 3i; and a measuring mechanism 88 where the strip is measured into desired lengths and severed into these lengths.

The severing mechanism 86 is of conventional construction per se and includes a base portion 90 within which suitable operating mechanism is housed. A support member 92 is mounted on the base 99 and has a pair of upstanding guides 94 within which vertically movable rod members 95 are slidably received. The rod members 96 extend downwardly into the base fill and are suitably connected to the operating mechanism which functions to vertically move the rod members 96 for effecting the severing operation. A cross member 98 is fixed to the members 95 adjacent the tops thereof; and a longitudinally extending supporting guide member [M is fixed to the under surface of the cross member 98. The member IOI guides and supports a longitudinal movable carriage I02 to which a suitable downwardly extending severing or cutting element IE3; is fixed. Another longitudinally extending supporting guide member I06 is fixed to the top of the support 92 and slidably supports a longitudinally movable carriage I08. The carriage 28 has mounted thereon a support H0 and guides II2 which support and guide the finished strip 32 as it passes through the severing mechanism.

The carriages I02 and I08 are connected for longitudinal movement together by substantially vertical tubular members Il which are fixed to the carriage I08 and which are telescopically received within tubular members H5 fixed to the under surface of the carriage I02. The carriages I02 and I08 are normally urged toward the discharge end of the finishing machine 2'? by means of a coil spring II8 which is connected to the carriage I08 and to the finishing machine 21.

An operating lever I20 is connected in the usual way to the operating mechanism of the severing means and is normally urged to its inoperative position by means of a coil spring I22 which is connected to the lever I20 and to the finishing machine 21. The lever I20 is bent inwardly adjacent its upper end, as indicated at I24, and is provided With a notched member I25 which is adapted to be engaged by a complementary notched member I 28. The notched member I28 is connected to the carriage I08 for movement therewith; and .after the carriage I08 has moved a predetermined distance along with the finish strip 32, the lever I20 is moved to the right and actuates the operating mechanism, which in turn causes the cross member 98 with the cutting element I06 to move downwardly and sever the, finished strip 32.

The measuring mechanism includes an elongated longitudinally extending support Iiill having grooves I3I along its side edge. A longitudinally slidable block I32 is mounted on the support 39 and has complementary portions which are slidably engaged in the grooves 53! for guiding and positioning the block. A brace member I33 is fixed to a sliding block I35, which is slidably mounted on, the support I in the same manner as the sliding block I 32, and is fixed to the block I32 for steadying the block I32 as it moves along the support and preventing displacement of the block.

An elongated stop member I3 l is pivotally mounted to the slide block I32 by means of a pivot I36 for movement with the block I322. The stop member I34 is adapted to lie in. the line of travel of the finished strip 32 and as the finished strip 32 moves toward the right, it abuts against the stop I34, causing the stop 53d with the block I32 to be driven toward the right by the finished strip 32. An elongated rod member I38 is adjustably connected to the block E32 and to the carriage I03 so that the block member I32 and the carriage E38 move in unison. By suitably adjusting the distance between the block I32 and the carriage I08, the finished strip 32 may be severed into any desired lengths.

The stop member I34 has a roller Hi0 connected there-to, and as the stop member I34 with the block I32 approach the end of their travel simultaneously with actuation of the lever !20 for effecting the severance of the strip, the roller M0 strikes against and rides upon an inclined portion of a block I42 which is adjustably fixed to the sup-port 30. The stop member Its is thus moved upwardly out of engagement with the leading edge of the finished strip 32 and the severed strip is then free to be discharged from the severing and measuring mechanisms. During the travel of the member I34, the under-surface thereof rests upon and slides over the block I42.

For discharging the severed strip from the mechanism, an elongated fiat spring l i l is fixed to the carriage I03 and an elongated spring M6 is fixed to the supportiitll. The springs EM and M6 engage one side of the finished strip 32 and are so constructed and arranged that they normally exert a force against that side of the strip. After the severing operation has taken place and after the stop l34 has been removed from engagement with the strip, the springs M4 and Mt are then permitted to-function to throw the severed moldings from the machine to a position at which the moldings may be collected. Another spring member I 43 is mounted on the support l3$ and is adapted to engage the top surface of the finished strip 32 for assisting in properly positioning the strip 32 for the measuring and severing operation.

After the severing operation and after the molding has been discharged from the machine, the spring I I8 functions to return the carriage i08 together with the lock I32 and stop I34 toward the left to the initial positions of the members.

While in the structure above described a molding of a finished shape such as that indicated in Fig. 12 has been illustrated throughout, it will be appreciated that by changing the shape of the forming rollers and by changing the shape of the support 3! that moldings of other sectional shapes may be made. For example, moldings having a sectional shape such as that indicated at I50 in Fig. 13 may be fabricated by the use of suitable shaping rollers and by the use of a support having a cross-sectional shape complementary to that of the molding I50.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit and substance of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Metal forming and finishing apparatus comprising, in combination, a support for a shaped strip of metal being finished along which said strip is moved, the engaging surface of said support having a sectional shape complementary in shape to the sectional shape of said shaped strip of metal, a plurality of substantially aligned finishing wheels disposed above said support and adapted to engage and finish said strip, means to rotate said wheels in the direction of movement of said strip along said support, and driving means to drive said strip along said support past said finishing wheels, said last named means including metal forming rollers adapted to shape said strip before the strip is disposed on said support, and means for rotating said rollers in such a direction as to drive said strip toward and along said support.

2. Metal finishing apparatus comprising a base, an elongated support mounted on said base for engaging a shaped strip of metal along which said strip is moved, the engaging surface of said support having a shape complementary to that of the shaped strip, finishing wheels disposed above said support and adapted to engage and finish said strip, means to rotate said wheels, and means to drive said strip along said support.

3. Metal finishing apparatus comprising a base, an elongated support fixedly mounted on said base for engaging a shaped strip of metal along which said strip is moved, the engaging surface of said support having a shape complementary to that of the shaped strip, finishing wheels disposed above said support adapted to engage and finish said strip, means to, rotate said wheels, and means to drive said strip along said support.

4. Metal finishing apparatus comprising a base, an elongated support mounted on said base for engaging a shaped strip of metal along which said strip is moved, finishing wheels disposed above said support adapted to engage and finish said strip, means adjustably mounting said wheels relative to said support, means to rotate said wheels, and means to drive said strip along said support.

5. Metal finishing apparatus comprising a base, an elongated support mounted on said base for engaging a shaped strip of metal along which said strip is moved, the engaging surface of said support having a shape complementary to that of the shaped strip, finishing wheels disposed above said support and adapted to engage and finish said strip, means adjustably mounting said finishing wheels relative to said support, means to rotate said wheels, and means to drive said strip along said support.

6. Metal finishing apparatus comprising a base, an elongated support mounted on said base for engaging the shaped strip of metal along which said strip is moved, finishing wheels disposed above said support adapted to engage and finish said strip, means universally adjustably mounting said wheels relative to said support, means to rotate said wheels, and means to drive said strip along said support.

'7. Metal finishing apparatus comprising a base, an elongated support mounted on said base for engaging a shaped strip of metal along which said strip is moved, finishing wheels disposed above said support adapted to engage and finish said strip, means for adjustably mounting said finishing wheels relative to said support, said last named means including a base portion adjustably mounted relative to said base, a supporting portion pivotally mounted relative to said base portion, and means to adjust said supporting portion about its pivot, said Wheels being connected to said supporting portion, means to rotate said wheels mounted on said supporting portion, and means to drive said strip along said support.

8. Metal finishing apparatus comprising a base, an elongated support mounted on said base for engaging a shaped strip of metal along which said strip is moved, said support having a sectional shape complementary to that of the shaped strip, finishing wheels disposed above said support adapted to engage and finish said strip, means for adjustably mounting said finishing wheels to said support, said last named means including a base portion adjustably mounted relative to said base, a supporting portion pivotally mounted relative tosaid base portion, and means to adjust said supporting portion about its pivot, said wheels being connected to said supporting portion, means to rotate said Wheels mounted on said supporting portion, and means to drive said strip along said support.

CLARENCE P. CHAMBERLIN. 

